FAB 3. BOND IN THE LEAD FOR BUCS’ SAM LB ROLE
The one starting position that isn’t being talked about much as the offseason rolls along is the starting Sam (strongside) linebacker position that remains vacant following veteran linebacker Daryl Smith’s exodus from Tampa Bay via free agency. Smith had 35 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery while playing no more than 40 percent of the snaps on defense last year as the team’s Sam linebacker.

To illustrate just how much the Bucs were in nickel defense last year, note that Kwon Alexander had a team-high 145 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, three sacks, one interception for a touchdown, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, while Lavonte David had 87 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, four passes defensed, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a pick-six. Alexander and David had triple the production because they were on the field over 60 percent of the time more than Smith was as nickel linebackers.

Bucs LB Devante Bond – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But just because the Bucs weren’t in base defense much doesn’t mean that the Sam linebacker position can’t be ignored. Tampa Bay needs a starter to replace Smith and the current leader on the depth chart is Devante Bond, last year’s sixth-round pick.

If that name doesn’t ring a bell it’s because he spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve after a serious hamstring injury that occurred in training camp.

“It was the Thursday practice when Cleveland was here practicing with us,” Bond said. “It was on a kickoff and I went all out and really pulled my hammy. It was a significant injury.”

Bond may not have made any memorable plays in the preseason to make you remember him, but he did enough in practice during OTAs, training camp, the first two exhibition games on defense and special teams and what he did behind the scenes last year to have the Bucs excited about his potential heading into 2017.

I chatted with linebackers coach Mark Duffner about Bond at the Senior Bowl and he raved about Bond’s preparation and how he used his time on injured reserve to immerse himself into Mike Smith’s defense.

“I acted like I was playing in every meeting,” Bond said. “I took the notes and took it seriously, writing down stuff like “I need to watch No. 2 crossing on punts.”  That’s how I stayed on top of everything. I treated it like a redshirt season.

“It was tough because as a competitor you want to play and help your team. At the end of the day I just want to play football. I took the positive out of everything. I dedicated this past year to getting stronger physically and smarter mentally. All year long I traveled with the team each week and was still involved with everything. I was in all the meetings and I had to take all the tests. I took notes as if I was playing every week. That’s how I kept on top of everything.”

Few players that are on injured reserve travel with the team, but Tampa Bay made sure Bond was doing everything he could as a rookie, except practicing with the team on the fields at One Buccaneer Place and playing on Sundays.

Former Bucs LB Daryl Smith – Photo by: Getty Images

“He’s been working hard and he’s a great rookie,” Alexander said. “He’s overcoming it. It’s like a redshirt season for him. He’s learning a lot and he’s got Buck (Daryl Smith) in front of him. He’s going to play a big role for us when he gets back.”

Having a sage veteran like Smith, who played 13 years in the NFL, as a mentor for him in meeting rooms and in the locker room was a blessing for Bond.

“It’s bittersweet for him because he’s a baller and he can play,” Smith said. “He’s smart, too. But he’s not moping around. He and I are pretty tight. He’s stayed positive and he knows he’s here for a reason. When he gets his chance, he’s going to shine. He’s learned a lot this year and he’s going to be fine.”

Bond was grateful that Smith took him under his wing and showed him some valuable pointers during his rookie season.

“I learned a lot from Daryl,” Bond said. “Not only did he help teach me the playbook, he taught me the ins and outs about how to prepare and going about my day as a pro. Of course I wanted to play, but I took the positive out of it. I’ve learned so much and I’ve observed so much from the vets around me despite not playing. I’ve taken the positives out of it and gotten stronger. My body is feeling really good. I went through the Combine, the OTAs and training camp, so I’m fresh. I’ve been working out hard though behind the scenes, so when the time comes I’ll be ready. I’m going to be just right.”

The byproduct of Bond’s year on injured reserve is that he didn’t have to dedicate any of his time for recovery from a physical standpoint, and he didn’t hit a rookie well mentally because he didn’t have to face the rigors that come with 20 games during an NFL season between exhibition games and the regular season. Instead Bond engaged the game with his mind, as he observed and learned a lot during his redshirt season in Tampa Bay.

“Kwon and Lavonte taught me about energy and playing with energy,” Bond said. “I watched them and how they treat their bodies in the training room and the extra stuff they do to make sure they’re on the field. I’m ready to go.”

Bucs LB Devante Bond – Photo by: Getty Images

The appealing thing about Bond is size. At 6-foot-1, 236 pounds, he’s the biggest linebacker on Tampa Bay’s roster. That’s important as the strongside linebacker in Mike Smith’s scheme has to set he edge in a 4-3 under front when the Sam moves down to the line of scrimmage over the tight end. Size and strength are needed at that position, in addition to the ability to rush the passer off the edge.

The Bucs want to blitz the Sam linebacker even more in 2017 than they did last year. While Daryl Smith had the size to set the edge at the position at 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, age had robbed him of the speed necessary to get to the quarterback. The Bucs rarely blitzed Smith, but when he did get after the quarterback it was effective, evidenced by the fact that safety Chris Conte’s pick-six against Chicago came with Smith pressuring Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

“You do a lot as the Sam in this defense,” Bond said. “You blitz a lot in this scheme. Coach Mike has a lot of blitzes, and of course I’m setting the edge in some defenses, too.”

It’s unclear who will challenge Bond, who he has 4.68 speed, for the Sam linebacker role in 2017. It could be last year’s top reserve and special teamer Adarius Glanton, who is 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, or it could be new linebacker Jeff Knox, who is a bit undersized at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds. Knox played last year in the Canadian Football League and recorded 65 tackles and added another 19 on special teams, according to a report in the Tampa Bay Times. Knox notched 115 tackles as a rookie in 2015.

The Bucs have also shown some interest in draft prospects like Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson and Jackson State linebacker-defensive end Javancy Jones. The 6-foot-2, 253-pound Anderson is viewed as a third-round pick, while the 6-foot-1, 252-pound Jones is likely a sixth- or seventh-round selection. Both have the ability to blitz and get to the quarterback.

Anderson had 128 tackles, 39.5 tackles for loss, 19 sacks, six forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and an interception return for a touchdown during his Crimson Tide career. He came on as a senior, recording 18.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and his pick-six as Alabama attempted to defend its national championship title.

Jones, who has been a mainstay as a sixth-round pick in PewterReport.com’s 2017 Bucs’ 7-Round Mock Draft, has 339 career tackles, 74.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks and six forced fumbles while playing linebacker and defensive end at Jackson State. Jones is at his best near the line of scrimmage, as he has recorded no fewer than 14 tackles for loss and three sacks in any of his four seasons playing for the Tigers.

At Oklahoma, Bond didn’t get to show off his ability to rush the passer as much as he would have liked. In eight starts over two years, Bond recorded 72 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. But in his final year at Sierra College as a junior, Bond recorded 77 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in 11 games before transferring to the Sooners.

Despite the fact that the Bucs were high on Bond during his redshirt season, keeping him on injured reserve rather than waiving him injured, the rookie from Oklahoma never felt complacent.

“I still felt like I was on the hot seat all year – like I had to keep proving myself with the tests and film work,” Bond said. “I think that’s what kept me going. I know how this business works. I felt like every week I had to be on top of my stuff and my playbook. That’s the approach I’ll keep throughout my whole career.

“It was definitely exciting to see us turn it around at the end of the year. I can’t wait to get out there next year. I can’t wait for the offseason. I’m going to go out and work and come back next season and finally get on the field.”

Bond won’t be given the starting Sam linebacker job, but Daryl Smith believes Bond has prepared himself behind the scenes for the chance to take over.

“He’s been a good rookie,” Smith said. “I know it’s been tough for him, but he’s been in meetings every day and he’s asking questions and preparing like he’s going to play. At the same time, he couldn’t practice, but he’s learned a lot. I know he’s looking forward to next year when he can play. He’ll get his shot.”